Ancient French ship anchor rediscovered after vanishing for 43 years

Friday 18 July 2025 · 4 outlets · 3 reports · updated Fri 18 Jul 2025, 9:33am

In this story Heritage New Zealand, Kelly Tarlton

A 256-year-old anchor from the French ship St Jean Baptiste has been located. Originally found by Kelly Tarlton in 1982, the relic was rediscovered during a podcast expedition. Heritage New Zealand describes the object as one of the oldest relics of early European contact with New Zealand.

How they headlined it

5:29am7:45am9:33am

1. RNZFri 18 Jul 2025, 5:29am

   256-year-old relic of European contact with NZ rediscovered in RNZ podcast (opens in new tab)

   Also on NZ Herald (opens in new tab)

2. 1News via RNZFri 18 Jul 2025, 7:45am

   More than 250-year-old relic located after vanishing for decades (opens in new tab)

3. StuffFri 18 Jul 2025, 9:33am

   Watch: ‘Incredible’ discovery of long lost anchor, and NZ's oldest European artefact (opens in new tab)